MLL Changes On-Field Equipment Policy

In a move that Major League Lacrosse commissioner David Gross
says "should have a positive impact on everyone associated," with
the league, MLL will allow any lacrosse manufacturer to partner
with the league and have its product worn on-field during
games.

Players currently must wear Warrior, Brine or New Balance
equipment and apparel and Cascade helmets, but in a letter to MLL's
eight teams and all players Thursday afternoon, Gross said "we will
be opening up the on-field equipment category," for the 2013
season.

The new league policy will follow the National Hockey League
model in which manufacturers can sponsor individual categories of
on-field equipment. For MLL's purposes these categories will
include bags, balance bracelets, body equipment (arm pads, chest
protectors, rib pads, shoulder pads), compression shirts and
shorts, gloves, knee bands, socks, stick handles and stick heads,
according to the letter.

If a manufacturer does not partner with MLL, its product will
still not be allowed on-field. For manufacturers who partner witih
MLL, their endorsed players can wear those brands during games.

"Among our objectives with this change is that with the added
exposure for endorsed athlete product on-field, there should be
significantly more opportunities for MLL players to sign
endorsement deals with companies that chose to partner with MLL,"
Gross wrote.

Gross said the change "has been in the works for some time" and
that "we'll have a great deal going on this offseason."